Key Points

• In 2021, the overall incidence rate of invasive pneumococcal infections decreased, but the decline was less pronounced than in the previous year and varied by age group.

• The incidence rate was highest and rising again among children under 2 years of age, though levels remained below those of 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Among those aged 65 and older, incidence rates remain among the highest, with a more moderate decrease compared to the previous year.

• The majority of infections were caused by serotypes not included in the PCV13 vaccine (notably serotype 8 in adults and serotype 24F in children), as well as by serotype 3 (included in PCV13) in adults.